WeWork has launched its first WeWork Labs in Southeast Asia while Grab trials e-scooter sharing service, GrabWheels, at NUS.

WeWork launches WeWork Labs in Singapore

Co-working space company WeWork has launched WeWork Labs in Singapore, marking its foray in Southeast Asia.

According to an official statement, WeWorks Labs will expand to Bangkok by Q1 2019. Both WeWork Labs in Bangkok and Singapore will be led by Adrian Tan, Head of Labs for WeWork Southeast Asia.

WeWork Labs is WeWork’s innovation platform for early-stage startups, granting members access to custom programming, mentorships, investments and educational resources to grow their business. According to WeWork, it aims to connect and unlock opportunities for startups, entrepreneurs and large enterprises. The company claims to have a community of more than 320,000 members globally.

WeWork Labs Singapore added that it is working with accelerators such as Techstars (a WeWork 71 Robinson member in Singapore), incubators, VCs and large corporations in the country. It piloted its first batch of startups in its accelerator programme in September 2018.

Since its launch in early-2018, WeWork Labs has set up locations in the US, South Korea, Brazil, Israel and India.

Grab trials e-scooter sharing service, GrabWheels at NUS

Grab’s venture arm, Grab Ventures, is partnering with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to trial an e-scooter sharing service called GrabWheels on campus.

According to a joint statement, the three-month trial will involve e-scooters deployed across eight parking stations in NUS Kent Ridge campus. Grab and NUS will also study patterns of how commuters use shared e-scooters to address transportation needs on campus.

Users may access the service via the GrabWheels beta app. During the pilot period, users will be charged a rate of S$0.20 for every 30 minutes of use with options to pay via GrabPay. Users will also be eligible for GrabRewards, and includes insurance coverage at no cost.

“Our partnership with NUS is also a good example of how Grab can work together with local communities and cities to improve transportation and urban mobility for all,” said Chris Yeo, Head of Grab Ventures.